U.S. patent application number 13/832782 was filed with the patent office on 2014-09-18 for dynamically enable, variable border area for touch solution with a bezel.
This patent application is currently assigned to DELL PRODUCTS L.P.. The applicant listed for this patent is DELL PRODUCTS L.P.. Invention is credited to Vinh X. Bui, Alan Luecke, Gerald R. Pelissier.
Application Number | 20140282228 13/832782 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51534526 |
Filed Date | 2014-09-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140282228 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pelissier; Gerald R. ; et
al. |
September 18, 2014 |
Dynamically Enable, Variable Border Area for Touch Solution with a
Bezel
Abstract
A method and system for managing the active area of a
touch-sensitive display is disclosed. A request to resize the
active area of a touch-sensitive display is received from a user in
the form of a user gesture. The relationship of the current
dimensions of the active area to the inside dimensions of a bezel
associated with the touch-sensitive display is determined. The
request is then processed to initiate active area resizing
operations. If the dimensions of the active area are coincident
with the inside dimensions of the bezel, then the dimensions of the
active area can be reduced. If the dimensions of the active area
are not coincident with the inside dimensions of the bezel, then
the dimensions of the active area can be increased.
Inventors: |
Pelissier; Gerald R.; (Round
Rock, TX) ; Bui; Vinh X.; (Houston, TX) ;
Luecke; Alan; (Austin, TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
DELL PRODUCTS L.P. |
Round Rock |
TX |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Round Rock
TX
|
Family ID: |
51534526 |
Appl. No.: |
13/832782 |
Filed: |
March 15, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
715/788 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 2203/04803
20130101; G06F 3/0416 20130101; G06F 3/0488 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
715/788 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/0481 20060101
G06F003/0481 |
Claims
1. A computer-implementable method for managing the active area of
a touch-sensitive display, comprising: receiving user input data
from a user, the user input data comprising a request to resize the
active area of a touch-sensitive display; processing active area
data to determine the relationship of the current dimensions of the
active area to the inside dimensions of a bezel associated with the
touch-sensitive display; and processing the user input data to
initiate active area resizing operations.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the active area resizing
operations comprise one member of the set of: decreasing the
dimensions of the active area if the current dimensions of the
active area are coincident with the inside dimensions of the bezel;
and increasing the dimensions of the active area if the current
dimensions of the active area are not coincident with the inside
dimensions of the bezel.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein: the active area resizing
operations automatically resize the dimensions of the active area
to a set of predetermined dimensions; and the difference between
the set of predetermined dimensions and the inside dimensions of
the touch-sensitive display's bezel comply with a predetermined
certification requirement.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein: the active area resizing
operations incrementally resize the dimensions of the active area
in predetermined increments.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein: the touch-sensitive display
comprises an optical imaging touchscreen.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the user input data is received
as a result of the performance of at least one member of the set
of: a simple user gesture; a multi-touch user gesture; a three
dimensional (3D) user gesture; proximity detection of a user; a
voice recognition command; and an interaction with a physical
control by a user.
7. A system comprising: a processor; a data bus coupled to the
processor; and a non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium
embodying computer program code for managing the active area of a
touch-sensitive display, the non-transitory, computer-readable
storage medium being coupled to the data bus, the computer program
code interacting with a plurality of computer operations and
comprising instructions executable by the processor and configured
for: receiving user input data from a user, the user input data
comprising a request to resize the active area of a touch-sensitive
display; processing active area data to determine the relationship
of the current dimensions of the active area to the inside
dimensions of a bezel associated with the touch-sensitive display;
and processing the user input data to initiate active area resizing
operations.
8. The system of claim 7, wherein the active area resizing
operations comprise one member of the set of: decreasing the
dimensions of the active area if the current dimensions of the
active area are coincident with the inside dimensions of the bezel;
and increasing the dimensions of the active area if the current
dimensions of the active area are not coincident with the inside
dimensions of the bezel.
9. The system of claim 7, wherein: the active area resizing
operations automatically resize the dimensions of the active area
to a set of predetermined dimensions; and the difference between
the set of predetermined dimensions and the inside dimensions of
the touch-sensitive display's bezel comply with a predetermined
certification requirement.
10. The system of claim 7, wherein: the active area resizing
operations incrementally resize the dimensions of the active area
in predetermined increments.
11. The system of claim 7, wherein: the touch-sensitive display
comprises an optical imaging touchscreen.
12. The system of claim 7, wherein the user input data is received
as a result of the performance of at least one member of the set
of: a simple user gesture; a multi-touch user gesture; a three
dimensional (3D) user gesture; proximity detection of a user; a
voice recognition command; and an interaction with a physical
control by a user.
13. A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium embodying
computer program code, the computer program code comprising
computer executable instructions configured for: receiving user
input data from a user, the user input data comprising a request to
resize the active area of a touch-sensitive display; processing
active area data to determine the relationship of the current
dimensions of the active area to the inside dimensions of a bezel
associated with the touch-sensitive display; and processing the
user input data to initiate active area resizing operations.
14. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim
13, wherein the active area resizing operations comprise one member
of the set of: decreasing the dimensions of the active area if the
current dimensions of the active area are coincident with the
inside dimensions of the bezel; and increasing the dimensions of
the active area if the current dimensions of the active area are
not coincident with the inside dimensions of the bezel.
15. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim
13, wherein: the active area resizing operations automatically
resize the dimensions of the active area to a set of predetermined
dimensions; and the difference between the set of predetermined
dimensions and the inside dimensions of the touch-sensitive
display's bezel comply with a predetermined certification
requirement.
16. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim
13, wherein: the active area resizing operations incrementally
resize the dimensions of the active area in predetermined
increments.
17. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim
13, wherein: the touch-sensitive display comprises an optical
imaging touchscreen.
18. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim
13, wherein the user input data is received as a result of the
performance of at least one member of the set of: a simple user
gesture; a multi-touch user gesture; a three dimensional (3D) user
gesture; proximity detection of a user; a voice recognition
command; and an interaction with a physical control by a user.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to the field of information
handling systems and more particularly to managing the active area
of a touch-sensitive display.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] As the value and use of information continues to increase,
individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and
store information. One option available to users is information
handling systems. An information handling system generally
processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or
data for business, personal, or other purposes thereby allowing
users to take advantage of the value of the information. Because
technology and information handling needs and requirements vary
between different users or applications, information handling
systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how
the information is handled, how much information is processed,
stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the
information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The
variations in information handling systems allow for information
handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or
specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline
reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In
addition, information handling systems may include a variety of
hardware and software components that may be configured to process,
store, and communicate information and may include one or more
computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.
[0005] A touch-sensitive display, also known as a touchscreen, is
an electronic visual display that can receive user input through
simple or multi-touch gestures by the user touching the screen with
one or more fingers. In recent years, it has become increasingly
common to incorporate touchscreens into a wide variety of
information handling systems, including all-in-one personal
computers (AIO-PCs), laptops, tablets, portable digital assistants
(PDAs), cell phones and other devices. Known touchscreen
technologies include resistive, surface capacitive, projected
capacitive, infrared, surface acoustic wave (SAW), dispersive
signal technology (DST), acoustic pulse recognition, LCD in-cell
optical, and force sensing.
[0006] A more recent touchscreen technology is optical imaging,
which tracks the movement of any object close to the surface of the
screen through the use of optical sensors located around the
perimeter of the display. These optical sensors, which may be
positioned in the corners of the display or around the perimeter of
the display, can track the movement of the object, such as a user's
fingertip, by detecting the interruption of an infra-red light
source that is emitted in a plane across the surface of the screen.
In various implementations, the infrared light source may be
actively emitted by an infrared LED, or passively provided by one
or more reflective surfaces. One advantage of an optical imaging
touchscreen is that the user's gestures do not actually have to be
made in contact with the display. As a result, three dimensional
(3D) user gestures are enabled.
[0007] However, optical imaging touchscreens typically require a
raised bezel to enclose the various optical sensors, LED bars,
filters, or reflector bars used in different implementations.
Furthermore, third party software vendors may impose additional
configuration or operational requirements on the implementation of
optical imaging touchscreens to ensure compatibility with their
products. As an example, the Microsoft.RTM. Corporation of Redmond,
Wash., ensures compatibility with their Windows.RTM. products
through their Windows Hardware Quality Labs (WHQL) testing. Third
party products that pass the WHQL tests are allowed to use a
"Certified for Windows" logo, which certifies that the hardware or
software has had some share of testing by Microsoft to ensure
compatibility. In particular, Microsoft.RTM. Windows.RTM. operating
system (OS) version 8 (Win 8.RTM.) WHQL requires any touch
implementation that has a raised bezel to also have a 20 mm border
around the active display area in order to facilitate ease of
operation for edge swipe gestures. As a result, this requirement
may also result in additional or undesired industrial design
constraints.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] In accordance with the present invention, a method and
system for managing the active area of a touch-sensitive display is
disclosed. In various embodiments, user input is monitored to
detect a request to resize the active area of a touch-sensitive
display. If detected, then a determination is made whether the
resizing request is to increase or decrease the size of the active
area. The current dimensions of the touchscreen's active area are
then determined.
[0009] If it was determined that the user request was to decrease
the size of the active area, then a determination is made whether
the current dimensions of the active area can be further decreased.
If so, the dimensions of the active area are decreased. Otherwise,
they are not. Conversely, if it was determined that the user
request was to increase the size of the active area, then a
determination is made whether the current dimensions of the active
area can be further increased. If so, the dimensions of the active
area are increased. Otherwise, they are not.
[0010] In various embodiments, the dimensions of the active area
are automatically resized to a predetermined set of dimensions. In
one embodiment, the predetermined set of dimensions is coincident
with the inside dimensions of the touch-sensitive display's bezel.
In one embodiment, the difference between the predetermined set of
dimensions and the inside dimensions of the bezel is implemented as
an inactive area of the touch-sensitive display. In one embodiment,
the inactive area complies with a predetermined certification
requirement. In one embodiment, the dimensions of the active area
are incrementally resized in predetermined increments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The present invention may be better understood, and its
numerous objects, features and advantages made apparent to those
skilled in the art by referencing the accompanying drawings. The
use of the same reference number throughout the several figures
designates a like or similar element.
[0012] FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an information handling
system having a system for touchscreen active area management;
[0013] FIGS. 2a and 2b show a diagrammatic representation of the
resizing of a touchscreen's active area to provide a border between
the active area and the touchscreen's bezel;
[0014] FIGS. 3a and 3b show a diagrammatic representation of a user
gesture used to initiate the resizing of a touchscreen's active
area; and
[0015] FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of touchscreen active area resizing
operations.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] A method and system are disclosed for managing the active
area of a touch-sensitive display. For purposes of this disclosure,
an information handling system may include any instrumentality or
aggregate of instrumentalities operable to compute, classify,
process, transmit, receive, retrieve, originate, switch, store,
display, manifest, detect, record, reproduce, handle, or utilize
any form of information, intelligence, or data for business,
scientific, control, or other purposes. For example, an information
handling system may be a personal computer, a network storage
device, or any other suitable device and may vary in size, shape,
performance, functionality, and price. The information handling
system may include random access memory (RAM), one or more
processing resources such as a central processing unit (CPU) or
hardware or software control logic, ROM, and/or other types of
nonvolatile memory. Additional components of the information
handling system may include one or more disk drives, one or more
network ports for communicating with external devices as well as
various input and output (I/O) devices, such as a keyboard, a
mouse, and a video display. The information handling system may
also include one or more buses operable to transmit communications
between the various hardware components.
[0017] FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an information handling
system having a system for finger tap sequence authentication that
can be used to implement the system and method of the present
invention. The information handling system 100 includes a processor
(e.g., central processor unit or "CPU") 102, input/output (I/O)
devices 104, such as a display, a keyboard, a mouse, and associated
controllers, a hard drive or disk storage 106, and various other
subsystems 108. The I/O devices further include a display device
140 as well as a touch sensitive input device 142. The touch
sensitive input device 142 may be a touch pad or may be a touch
sensitive type display device. In various embodiments, the
information handling system 100 also includes network port 110
operable to connect to a network 140, which is likewise accessible
by a service provider server 142. The information handling system
100 likewise includes system memory 112, which is interconnected to
the foregoing via one or more buses 114. System memory 112 further
includes an operating system (OS) 116 and in various embodiments
may also include a touchscreen active area management system 118
and a web browser 120. In one embodiment, the information handling
system 100 is able to download the touchscreen active area
management system 118 from the service provider server 142. In
another embodiment, the touchscreen active area management system
118 is provided as a service from the service provider server
142.
[0018] FIGS. 2a and 2b show a diagrammatic representation of the
resizing of a touchscreen's active area in accordance with an
embodiment of the invention to provide a border between the active
area and the touchscreen's bezel. As used herein, a touchscreen
broadly refers to a touch sensitive display that is operable to
receive user input through simple or multi-touch user gestures
familiar skilled practitioners of the art.
[0019] Referring to FIG. 2a, touchscreen 200 includes a bezel 202
and an active area 204. In various embodiments, the touchscreen 200
is an optical imaging touchscreen. In these and other embodiments,
the bezel 202 is a raised bezel familiar to those of skill in the
art. In certain embodiments, the raised bezel 202 may enclose
various optical sensors, LED bars, filters, or reflector bars. In
certain embodiments, the bezel 202 is not raised. As used herein, a
touchscreen's active area 204 refers to a predetermined area of a
touchscreen 200 that is operable to display an image 206 and to
receive user input through simple, multi-touch, or three
dimensional (3D) user gestures. As shown in FIG. 2a, the dimensions
of the touchscreen's current active area 204 are coincident with
the inside dimensions of the bezel 204.
[0020] In various embodiments, user input is received to initiate
resizing operations, which are then performed to resize the current
active area 204 of the touchscreen 200. For example, as shown in
FIG. 2b, the dimensions of the current active area 204 of the
touchscreen 200 have been decreased to result in a resized active
area 210. In one embodiment, the dimensions of the resized active
area 210 of the touchscreen 200 are automatically decreased to a
predetermined set of dimensions.
[0021] In one embodiment, the difference between the predetermined
set of dimensions and the inside dimensions of the bezel 202 of the
touchscreen 200 is implemented as an inactive area 208 of the
touchscreen 200. As used herein, an inactive area 208 refers to an
area of the touchscreen 200 that is configured to not display an
image, such as image 212, or to receive user input through simple
or multi-touch user gestures. As likewise used herein, an inactive
area 208 of the touchscreen 200 may be referred to as a "border," a
"touchscreen border," or an "inactive border." In one embodiment,
the inactive area 208 of the touchscreen 200 complies with a
predetermined certification requirement. In one embodiment, the
certification requirement is for compliance with Microsoft.RTM.
Corporation's Windows Hardware Quality Labs (WHQL) testing for
Windows.RTM. operating system (OS) version 8 (Win 8.RTM.).
[0022] In one embodiment, the image 206 displayed within the
current active area 204 of the touchscreen 200 is proportionately
resized to be displayed as image 212 within the resized active area
210. In one embodiment, the image 206 displayed within the current
active area 204 of the touchscreen 200 is not proportionately
resized when it is displayed within the resized active area 210. In
this embodiment, the image 206 is cropped according to the inside
dimensions of the inactive area 208 of the touchscreen 200.
[0023] FIGS. 3a and 3b show a diagrammatic representation of a user
gesture implemented in accordance with an embodiment of the
invention to initiate the resizing of a touchscreen's active area.
In this embodiment, monitoring operations are performed to detect
user input requesting that the active area 304 of the touchscreen
300 be resized. If detected, a determination is made whether the
resizing request was to increase or decrease the size of the
touchscreen's active area. Referring to FIG. 3a, the current
dimensions of the active area 304 of the touchscreen 300 is
determined, followed by a determination whether the user request
was to decrease or increase the size of the touchscreen's active
area 304.
[0024] As shown in FIG. 3a, a first user prompt 306 is generated
and displayed within the current active area 304 of the touchscreen
300 to prompt the user to reduce the current active area 304. In
response, the user provides user input through a user gesture 314
to decrease the size of the current active area 304. In turn, the
dimensions of the current active area 304 of the touchscreen 300
are decreased to result in a resized active area 310. In one
embodiment, the difference between the dimensions of the resized
active area 310 and the inside dimensions of the bezel 202 is
implemented as an inactive area 308 of the touchscreen 300.
[0025] As shown in FIG. 3b, a second user prompt 312 is generated
and displayed within the resized active area 310 of the touchscreen
300 to prompt the user to increase the active area 310. In
response, the user provides user input through a user gesture 314
to increase the size of the resized active area 310. In turn, the
dimensions of the resized active area 310 of the touchscreen 300
are increased. In one embodiment, the dimensions of the resized
active area 310 are automatically increased to a predetermined set
of dimensions. In one embodiment, the predetermined set of
dimensions is coincident with the inside dimensions of the
touchscreen's bezel 202. In one embodiment, the dimensions of the
resized active area 310 are incrementally resized in predetermined
increments.
[0026] In various embodiments, the user request is received as a
result of one or more user gestures 314, such as a simple,
multi-touch, or three dimensional (3D) user gesture 314. As used
herein, a 3D user gesture 314 refers to a gesture that includes
movement in three dimensions. For example, the user may move their
fingertip either towards or away from the current 304 or resized
310 active areas of the touchscreen 300. Skilled practitioners of
the art will be familiar with 3D user gestures 314, and realized
that various 3D user gestures 314 do not require physical contact
with the current 304 or resized 310 active areas. Likewise, 3D user
gestures 314 may be combined with simple or multi-touch user
gestures 314. In one embodiment, the user gesture 314 includes
proximity detection of a user. In another embodiment, the user
gesture 314 includes a voice recognition command. In yet another
embodiment, the user gesture 314 includes user interaction with a
physical control, such as a mechanical switch. Those of skill in
the art that many such embodiments of a user gesture 314 are
possible and the foregoing are not intended to limit the spirit,
scope or intent of the invention.
[0027] FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of touchscreen active area resizing
operations implemented in accordance with an embodiment of the
invention. In this embodiment, touchscreen active area resizing
operations are begun in step 402, followed by monitoring for user
input requesting that a touchscreen's active area be resized in
step 404. A determination is then made in step 406 whether user
input from a user requesting the resizing of a touchscreen's active
area has been detected. If not, then a determination is made in
step 422 whether to continue touchscreen active area resizing
operations. If so, then the process is continued, proceeding with
step 404. Otherwise, touchscreen active area resizing operations
are ended in step 424.
[0028] However, if it was determined in step 406 that user input
requesting the resizing of a touchscreen's active area was
detected, then a determination is made in step 408 whether the
resizing request was to increase or decrease the size of the
touchscreen's active area. Then, in step 410, the current
dimensions of the touchscreen's active area is determined, followed
by a determination in step 412 whether the user request was to
decrease or increase the size of the touchscreen's active area.
[0029] If it was determined in step 412 that the user request was
to decrease the size of the touchscreen's active area, then a
determination is made in step 414 whether the current dimensions of
the active area can be further decreased. As an example, a minimum
set of dimensions may be implemented for the touchscreen's active
area. If it is determined in step 414 that the dimensions of the
touchscreen's active area cannot be further decreased, then the
dimensions of the touchscreen's active area are not decreased and
the process is continued, proceeding with step 422. Otherwise, the
dimensions of the touchscreen's active area are decreased in step
416 and the process is continued, proceeding with step 422.
[0030] However, if it is determined in step 412 that the user
request was to increase the size of the touchscreen's active area,
then a determination is made in step 418 whether the current
dimensions of the active area can be further increased. For
example, the current dimensions of the active area may be
coincident with the inside dimensions of the bezel. If it is
determined in step 418 that the current dimensions of the active
area cannot be increased, then the dimensions of the touchscreen's
active area are not increased and the process is continued,
proceeding with step 422. Otherwise, the dimensions of the
touchscreen's active area are increased in step 416 and the process
is continued, proceeding with step 422. In one embodiment, the
dimensions of the touchscreen's active area are automatically
increased to a predetermined set of dimensions. In one embodiment,
the predetermined set of dimensions is coincident with the inside
dimensions of the touchscreen's bezel. In one embodiment, the
dimensions of the touchscreen's active area are incrementally
resized in predetermined increments.
[0031] The present invention is well adapted to attain the
advantages mentioned as well as others inherent therein. While the
present invention has been depicted, described, and is defined by
reference to particular embodiments of the invention, such
references do not imply a limitation on the invention, and no such
limitation is to be inferred. The invention is capable of
considerable modification, alteration, and equivalents in form and
function, as will occur to those ordinarily skilled in the
pertinent arts. The depicted and described embodiments are examples
only, and are not exhaustive of the scope of the invention.
[0032] For example, the above-discussed embodiments include
software modules that perform certain tasks. The software modules
discussed herein may include script, batch, or other executable
files. The software modules may be stored on a machine-readable or
computer-readable storage medium such as a disk drive. Storage
devices used for storing software modules in accordance with an
embodiment of the invention may be magnetic floppy disks, hard
disks, or optical discs such as CD-ROMs or CD-Rs, for example. A
storage device used for storing firmware or hardware modules in
accordance with an embodiment of the invention may also include a
semiconductor-based memory, which may be permanently, removably or
remotely coupled to a microprocessor/memory system. Thus, the
modules may be stored within a computer system memory to configure
the computer system to perform the functions of the module. Other
new and various types of computer-readable storage media may be
used to store the modules discussed herein. Additionally, those
skilled in the art will recognize that the separation of
functionality into modules is for illustrative purposes.
Alternative embodiments may merge the functionality of multiple
modules into a single module or may impose an alternate
decomposition of functionality of modules. For example, a software
module for calling sub-modules may be decomposed so that each
sub-module performs its function and passes control directly to
another sub-module.
[0033] Consequently, the invention is intended to be limited only
by the spirit and scope of the appended claims, giving full
cognizance to equivalents in all respects.
* * * * *